Page 16 of Bear Creek Valentine
One of the desk photos piqued Aiden’s interest, and he asked Dash about it.
“Is this your family? I see now where you get your good looks.”
A blush stained Dash’s cheeks as he answered.
“I’m the runt in a litter of five, with three sisters and a brother. We come from a long line of city bears in the Reading area, about ninety miles south of here. We’re pretty close and stay in touch. What about you?”
Dash immediately noticed Aiden’s scent took on a bitter tang, unaware that he rarely spoke about his dysfunctional family.
“I grew up in Clarks Summit, just north of Scranton. My folks divorced when I was little, and I have a twin brother and a half-sister. We...don’t stay in touch.”
The man’s discomfort was obvious, and Dash scooped up Aiden’s hand to give it a soft squeeze. They returned to the sitting area and settled on one of the couches, sitting side by side to discuss their business. Aiden shook off the negative memories, switched gears, and jumped right in with an enthusiastic smile.
“I’ve decided to take you up on the partnership. We’ll need to nail down the details and write up an agreement, but I assume your staff can help with that.”
Dash began to purr, and his dimples appeared before pulling Aiden in for a kiss.
“I’ll have Ryder draw up a basic agreement, and we’ll make any needed changes. What do you want to tackle first? How can I help you get started?”
Aiden was excited to have someone else share his dream, and perhaps the burdens that came along with it.
“Well, the top priority is locating a bigger building. I hate to give up my downtown location, but there isn’t enough room for all the production space I’ll need. Commercial properties in town are selling like hotcakes, so if I find something suitable, I’ll have to act fast.”
Dash thought for a moment about his recent acquisitions.
“What if you kept the shop where it is and added a second location for production? It’s your decision, of course, but my company now owns several downtown properties. Maybe one of them could be adapted for your needs until something better comes along.”
The idea had merit, though Aiden hadn’t considered such a scenario.
“I’d rather have everything under one roof, and since we’re crunched for time, it might be the best solution. Once we get that problem solved, I’ll need more employees soon. Ideally, two assistant managers—one for the production side, and another for the shop with previous customer service experience. Later, we’ll need full-time and part-time clerks and cashiers, along with someone to oversee online orders and shipping.”
Dash understood how time-consuming it was to locate, interview, and hire staff members. The resort was now in the throes of filling a multitude of open positions, which might make it difficult for Aiden to find the new employees he needed.
“If you like, I’ll have my Human Resources team help you get started. Also, you might want to think about people you’ve worked with in the past. Since you already know each other, convincing them to relocate is just a matter of offering the right kind of incentives. And don’t worry about the upfront costs. I’ll provide whatever funding you need to get things moving.”
Aiden’s mind whirled with the changes his little business was about to undergo. Though he found it all exciting, the unknowns made him nervous.
“The resort opens in September, and my busy season starts two months later. Setting up the new production space will take a lot of time, and the new employees will need to be trained. I’m just not sure we can get everything set up in time.”
Dash scented Aiden’s disquiet, cradling him in brawny arms.
“I know it seems overwhelming, but we’re a team now, and I’ve done this sort of thing before. The shop gets top priority, even if the resort has to wait until your people are ready. I know we can do this.”
Aiden appreciated the reassurance and relaxed in the man’s arms. Dash had significantly more business experience than he did and a support team of professionals at his beck and call. Ifhethought they could do it, Aiden wouldn’t disappoint him.
“All right,partner, why don’t we head upstairs for dessert and go over some of the details?”
####
A few days later
Aiden glanced nervously at the clock, waiting for his fashionably late interviewer to arrive. He still couldn’t believe that National Confectioners Magazine wanted to do a feature article on him andDelicious. He’d been interviewed a few times during the Christmas season after Levi’s performances went viral, which incidentally brought his shop into the limelight. And except for Philadelphia and New York City, they were small-town outlets from neighboring states.
This magazine was an industry standard with an enormous readership and a reputation for being very selective.Deliciouswas to be one of the first featured in a new series of articles about confectioners with a unique product or location. One of their regional editors spotted a small writeup about the shop and called for permission to send a two-person crew to interviewhim and take some photographs. Once the shock wore off, Aiden readily agreed, and now his frayed nerves gave him a stomachache.
Blanche was more excited than nervous, hoping the national exposure would bring him well-deserved fame and fortune. Aiden appreciated her enthusiasm, but at this point, he’d settle for getting through the interview without losing his lunch. After waiting an extra twenty minutes, the pair showed up, snapping photos of the sign and shop exterior before coming inside. The photographer was a sandy-haired cutie who loudly pinged Aiden’s gaydar. His companion was a pleasant-looking woman in her forties who looked him up and down like a raw steak before introducing herself.
“Anita Cosgrave, representing National Confectioners Magazine, and this is Reggie Thorn, my photographer. I’m quite taken with the bold color scheme of your logo, Mr. Romero. Now, why don’t you show us what you make, and I’ll save most of the questions for later, hmm?”
